A BOX of biscuits, a pair of trainers and £4 in cash are among a number of items reported stolen from the Scottish Parliament in the past year, the Sunday Express can reveal.

TAKING THE BISCUIT: Police were called 21 times to the Scottish Parliament[ ]

Police Scotland were called to Holyrood on 21 occasions following reports of thefts, threatening behaviour and vandalism in the 12 months to April of this year.

The number of parliamentary crimes has almost doubled on the previous year's figures, when 11 complaints - including reports of breach of the peace - were filed.

A Freedom of Information response from Police Scotland shows that, in the past year, there were four reports of threatening or abusive behaviour and two of vandalism.

Fifteen were complaints of theft, with biscuits, a pair of trainers, two keys, and a mobile phone among the items reported stolen.

Police also recorded that a pair of shoes as been stolen under the category "theft by finding" - an unusual charge whereby somebody has taken something that appeared to have been abandoned in a public place.

In addition, there were nine instances where cash sums of as little as £4, £5, £8, £10 and £12 were taken.

You have to wonder who on earth would call 999 to report a stolen packet of HobNobs

Holyrood insider

Last night, one Scottish Parliament insider said: "While any theft from your workplace is worrying, you have to wonder who on earth would call 999 to report a stolen packet of HobNobs.

"These figures have got us all wondering whether there is a Jammie Dodger on the loose in Holyrood."

However, the Scottish Conservative chief whip, John Lamont, insisted that rising levels of crime at Holyrood could damage Parliament's reputation.

He said: "The Scottish Parliament is supposed to set an example to the rest of the country. We're supposed to make the law here, not allow it to be broken.

"While the figures are still relatively small, it's important that a trend is not allowed to emerge, otherwise public confi-dence in Holyrood will be damaged."

In 2012-13 there were three cases of breach of the peace, one of an offensive email being sent, and another of vandalism.

There were also six reports of theft over the disappearance of a camcorder, phones with SIM cards, an iPod, DVD, £32 in cash, a lock and a welding machine.

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Parliament said: "All instances of theft at the Parliament are treated very seriously.

"The theft of any item is a crime and it is important that incidents at the Scottish Parliament are reported to Police Scotland, who will investigate as proportionate to the circumstances."